The Refugee Experience

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Transcript of The Refugee Experience

Who are Refugees?What is a RefugeeQuestion:Resettlement in the USAUSCRI-Des Moines NumbersUSCRI-Des Moines opened in January 2011 to assist with US Tie Cases. FY 2011: 147FY 2012: 211FY:2013: 310 Resettlement: In Pictures!USCRI-Des MoinesThe Refugee ExperienceA refugee is a person who has been forced to flee his or her country because of warpersecutionviolence A refugee has a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group.Via UNHCRThere are 15 million Refugee and Asylum seekers worldwide80 percent are women and childrenSince 1975, the US has resettled 3 million refugees.Only 1 percent of refugees will be resettled in third countries. The United States will welcome over half of these people.Iowa has a long history of resettlement dating back to the Vietnamese boat people in the 1970s and the opening of the Bureau for Refugee ServicesThe proposed ceiling for refugee admission in the US in 2013 is 70,000 individuals, most coming from South Asia.via UNHCR, World Refugee Survey (USCRI)There are 11 VOLAGS who are certified in refugee resettlementThe Reception and Placement Program helps refugees for 30-90 days after their arrival.Each refugee is give $925 for resettlement. This helps with:apartmentsfurniturefoodclothingmedical needsschool suppliesWe rely heavily on donation from community members to help with furnishing apartments.http://www.iptv.org/iowastories/story.cfm/promise/2107/pcia_20070423_2007_ray_responds/videoUSCRI National Numbers 2008FY-2010FY (32 agencies)Iraq 5,808 Burma 5,274 Bhutan 3,701 Cuba 1,747 Somalia 1,031 Iran 649 Burundi 495 Eritrea 495 FY2011: 7,152 individualsWho We ServeIraqis from: Iraq, Kuwait, UAE, Turkey, Syria, JordanBurmese from: Burma, Malaysia and ThailandBhutanese from: NepalSomalis from: Kenya, EgyptLiberiansEritreansResettlement Fun Facts!Refugees take out an interest-free loan from the US government to come to the US. They are expected to repay that loan starting six months after their arrival.Refugee are eligible for Food Stamps, Cash Assistance, Medicaid and Social Security immediately upon arrival.In Iowa, refugees are given eight months of RMA (Refugee Medical Assistance). Once their Medicaid runs out, there are other programs they can be eligible for.Overseas Resettlement ProcessAssigned a statusP1 - IndividualsP2 - A groupP3 - Reunification with anchor in USSIV Visa, Visa 935 background check/security clearancesIf approved for refugee status, IOM works with processing centers to arrange medical screeningsIOM arranges travel. USCRI is notified when client is ready to travelOur Year in Numbers (2013)+800 children received representation from the pro bono network492 victims of trafficking from 40 countries began reclaiming their lives 7,176 refugees settled in the USA95 languages spoken by refugees who fled 37 countries4,965 refugees attained employment